Chinese Cuisine at its best – Chop Suey

Tucked away in the corner of Jumeirah Beach Park Plaza is the authentic and surprisingly healthy Chinese restaurant Chop Suey.

Sporting a very welcoming atmosphere with smiling staff members and a happy to help attitude, this restaurant draws you in with more than just good food. The interiors are colorful with attention to detail, reflecting the flavorful Chinese cuisine.

Read more on this remarkable cuisine and restaurant.

  

Chop Suey has a smart way of ordering food. You get to do some activity and there’s always an assurance that you will get exactly what you ordered.

Every placemat is actually a menu and all the items are numbered. You simply need to circle those numbers on the right end of the menu and tear of that strip, handing it over to your server.

Are you eager to know what those numbers we circled represent?

Jasmine Tea

First off the menu at Chop Suey was this warm and soothing Jasmine tea. It is believed one of the main reasons the Chinese stay so slim despite their carb rich cuisine, is because they always sip warm water or tea along with their meals.

We all know warm water not only helps break down fat, but also prevents it from forming while helping in the digestion of food.
Moreover it’s getting quite chilly in Dubai these days, so this fragrant Jasmine tea made the perfect choice.

I just love how it’s presented in the floral China kettle and cup. So authentic!

For pre-starters, we were served with Prawn Crackers with a trio of dips.

Out of the hot chili, sweet chili and special Chop Suey sauce, I went crazy over the last one. When asked what it was, our friendly server told us it was a combination of different sauces and was a special one at Chop Suey. From what I could guess, it had a little soya, a little vinegar, a hint of chili water, and lots of garlic and chili pieces. But don’t go by what I say. Go there and try it yourself! (And get some packed too)

Crystal Prawn Dumplings

For starters, we decided to go ahead with one of Chop Suey’s steamed specialties.

Served just the way I love it – in a thatch steamer – these Crystal Prawn Dumplings wrapped up tender shrimps in a translucent dim sum. They were so juicy and crunchy at the same time, you could really end up eating them all evening.

I would have ended up with another serving of these momos, but there was a lot more in store. Keep coming back to find out!

Pan-fried Crispy Chicken Dumplings

To say I was spoilt for choice at Chop Suey would be an understatement. Their variety is so vast and so delicious, it’s just not fair to go there with a small appetite. Second on our three part starters were the Pan-fried Crispy Chicken Dumplings.

Although fried, they had almost no hint of oiliness, and the juicy chicken within was close to how it would be had they been steamed. I obviously loved this part the most.

I paired these dim sums with the sauces that were served along with prawn cracker pre-starters and they made a yummy combination.

Manchurian Mushrooms

Here’s my favoritest small plate dish at Chop Suey. Chinese food is never complete without some Manchurian and all this while I have only tried the chicken and vegetable style. But this one was different.

The Manchurian styled crispy mixed mushrooms combined sauteed shiitake, straw, oyster and button mushrooms in a very special and spicy Manchurian seasoning. The mushrooms were as crispy as you would expect them and totally irresistible!

Try this out, even if you are not a vegetarian. It’s worth it.

Prawn Wonton Soup

What could possibly make you more happy than a cup of warm soup to beat this chilly weather.
The soup choices at Chop Suey are quite a handful, and we tried their special Prawn Wonton soup.

Rich in vegetables, this warm broth had a prawn dumpling soaking up all the goodness. I like my soups a bit on the spicy side, so next time I’ll go with the Tom Yum.

Sizzling Chicken

For the mains, we opted for the Sizzling Chicken. This smoking hot dish is spiced with Chop Suey chili sauce and served on a sizzler along with chilies, onions, garlic, mushrooms, peppers and broccoli.

The diced chicken was cooked to perfection.

But beware! It’s hot.

Chop Suey with Chicken

The highlight of the dinner and the dish that shares its name with that of the resturant was the Chop Suey. This American styled classic is believed to have originated in California in 1800s when Chinese chefs wanted to sell their cuisine to Westerners but were unable to find the ingredients required to create traditional dishes. Chop Suey essentially means mixed pieces and this American classic left us wanting for more.

Cooked beautifully with chicken, mushrooms, spring onions, garlic and mixed vegetables in a mixture of soy sauce, oyster sauce and chilli sauce, the gravy was neatly laid over crispy Yifu Chinese noodles.

This is a must have. You cannot leave Chop Suey without trying one of these. You can also try it with beef, seafood or plain vegetables.

Sesame Toffee Banana & Chop Suey Special Ice Cream Sundae

That’s two of their favorite desserts on one plate. The sesame toffee banana is sweet and crunchy on the outside and so deliciously mushy within. And the Chop Suey special ice cream sundae is just so special.

Layered with pink marshmallows at the base, followed by vanilla ice cream and topped with generous amounts of whipped cream, this sundae is garnished with chocolate sauce and Maltesers. So much in one bite! Order either or both, you are sure to love them!

Chop Suey

Location: Ground Level, Beach Park Plaza Centre, Next to Emirates Hospital, Opposite Jumeirah Beach Park, Jumeirah 2, Dubai
Contact: 04 3442212